Yang Changqin turned a childhood passion into a lifelong profession. Determined and fiercely independent, the 36-year-old is now a master bamboo weaver, founder of the brand Jizhu, and a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress.
Born in Southwest China's Guizhou province, Yang loved handicrafts from an early age. After trying several different jobs, she gave up a more conventional path — a position as a kindergarten teacher — and, at about 18, became an apprentice in traditional bamboo weaving.
"She's stubborn," her mother said simply. "If she hits a wall, she'll build a ladder to climb over it. Once she makes up her mind about something, she sees it through."
Bamboo weaving is a traditional craft that transforms thin, flexible strips of bamboo into practical and decorative items through skilled handwork, producing everyday objects such as chairs, baskets, trays, and other household goods.
Pointing to a bamboo cup sleeve on her table, Yang said she wants her products to carry the feeling of the bamboo forests where she grew up while also being practical for modern life.
She recalled the hard early days of learning the craft. At first, she struggled to control the knife, often misjudging the pressure and cutting her hands. Sometimes she kept working even while bleeding. But with persistence, her movements gradually grew steadier and the techniques became second nature.
As her skills developed, Yang began exploring new approaches to bamboo weaving. She pioneered a range of three-dimensional weaving techniques and later studied at art schools in Shanghai and other cities to bring contemporary design ideas into her work.
In 2012, she founded her brand Jizhu, which means "extreme bamboo". Its bamboo paintings, handbags, and lamps soon gained popularity with consumers, and today, dozens of medals line the walls of her studio.
But turning traditional craftsmanship into a successful business required learning new skills. In addition to refining her designs and blending traditional techniques with modern aesthetics, Yang had to learn how to manage production and expand beyond her hometown. That meant developing digital skills as well, including online promotion and livestreaming to reach a wider market.
Supporting villagers
Her business has also had a tangible local impact. A single shop in a local scenic area can generate tens of thousands of yuan in monthly revenue while providing local villagers with piecework wages worth several thousand yuan.
The company now supports more than 100 stable jobs and around 200 flexible positions. On average, it brings villagers an additional income of about 30,000 yuan ($4,339.41) per person each year, allowing many of them to continue their craft livelihoods close to home.
Yang said she welcomes the growing number of young people who are becoming interested in intangible cultural heritage and starting their own brands. In today's highly competitive job market, she encourages them to make the most of their strengths and find ways to bring traditional crafts into modern life.
"Be brave enough to be yourself and turn your passion into a career," she said. Her love for the craft, she added, is what has carried her through every challenge along the way.
Yang also acknowledged that younger people often have a better grasp of social media platforms than she does. Looking back, she believes she missed certain opportunities because she did not fully understand how those platforms worked.
To address that, she now plans to train her team in new media operations and launch more active accounts on platforms such as Douyin (Chinese version of TikTok) and Xiaohongshu (RedNote).
"I'm building a hands-on learning base," she said. "Step by step, I hope the craft I love will become known to more people and bring benefits to more lives."
